Empowerment Through Employment Partnership

We’re so excited to announce our new Empowerment through Employment partnership, a new, multi-sector workforce development partnership for domestic violence survivors that will change the way our community works together to connect survivors to living wage careers.

Thanks to a two-year grant received from Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Community Health Improvement last fall, project lead, Casa Myrna and partner HarborCOV will provide a high quality, comprehensive workforce development program for Black, Latinx and immigrant survivors from low-income communities in Greater Boston and in the Suffolk County harbor communities north of Boston.

One of the primary reasons survivors remain in abusive relationship is because they are trapped financially; to leave would render 60% of survivors homeless. Supporting survivors as they recover financially from an abusive relationship and develop workplace skills helps to empower them to achieve independence and economic stability.

Our evidence-based, survivor-led, and trauma informed service continuum—including assessment, financial literacy education and coaching, matched savings program, entrepreneurship education, career counseling, and employer connections—will help participants prepare for and enter quality jobs and career pathways in selected sectors.

During the year one pilot phase, our goal is to launch a first of its kind public/private workforce development partnership program specifically targeted to the needs of domestic violence survivors. The project will serve 50 survivors, track the individual achievement of each participant and report the overall success of the model in preparation for full implementation, evaluation and expansion in year two.

Empowerment through Employment will bridge the gap from soft skills to living wage jobs by engaging with employers in new and vital roles that help survivors overcome their greatest obstacle to long term independence and financial security—living wage employment.

We are very grateful to Massachusetts General Hospital, who have been dedicated partners for many years in our work with domestic violence survivors. The MGH HAVEN Program is a partner in our legal advocacy program and MGH nursing students provide health care for participants at our shelters. Thank you MGH for all you do to make a difference for survivors.